Last week, just after walking off stage after performing at O’Hanlon’s I learned that my grandfather, Remo Forer had passed away at 97 years old. I carry his name with me; my middle name is Remo after him.
I’m sad about it, but at the same time, I never had a deep relationship with grandpa. We would talk politely at family events, and I always loved passing out the gum he gave me to my cousins, but he never really shared wisdom with me or guided me through much of life.
We always lived in a different town, so that’s a part of it. I
know many of my cousins who lived around Avonlea had much closer relationships.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have an appreciation and
respect for the man. 97 good years of life is in itself respectable. But I also
share his passion for hats, and I admire his entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, if
there’s one thing I wish I’d learned more from him, it’s how to be a businessman.
He may have been a farmer and later a gravel-baron, but at his core, he was a
shrewd businessman.
I also admire his longevity. And not just living to 97. Up
until two or three years ago, he was still extremely active. Famously, he did a
James Bond-style dive out of his bulldozer as it slipped off a cliff. On his
90th birthday! I don’t know that I could make that dive now at
44.
And so, we said farewell to grandpa on Saturday. I always
find the graveside part of the mourning process to be the most impactful. Church
is important to a lot of my family, but it always feels like the priest is
spending more time delivering a guilt trip than helping us remember or mourn.
But at the graveside, we say goodbye, and it’s very emotional. And twice in the
last month, I’ve shovelled dirt on the remains of a grandparent. I was an
honourary pallbearer for the first time; I’m sure it won’t be my last.
And so, I’m left with one grandparent. Luckily/unlucky, I
dunno. But I know it’s fleetingly rare to reach my age with any grandparents.
And grandma is not doing great. She was too sick to attend the funeral, and I do
worry if we’ll be saying goodbye to her before long.
I suppose that’s just part of growing up and growing older.
1 comment:
Yeah, I do find myself super lucky to be in my late thirties with three grandparents. Just hoping this year ends with one left.
Belle was feeling guilty since she gets more stuff than her cousins who live in Alberta. Site it wasn't their decision to move but she just naturally lives closer and gets more meals and stuff. I know that kind of stuff never bothered me. The Forer kids also helped their grandparents more.
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